there are at least two folks who have written about fungal odors: MOs own Darvin DeShazer, and Rob Halloch, Colorado chemist and former Prez of the CMS. Rob’s article, I believe, was in a past issue of McIlvainea.

There were two secotioid finds this year, one of which smelled distinctly of grape bubble tape and fresh flowers, the other like overripe pears. These are among the best smelling fungi in my opinion (I stopped by the collector’s table for a huff several times throughout the day). Perhaps here would be a good place to ask if any work has taken or is taking place on the science behind fungal smells. I’ve long been curious as to what makes certain species express certain smells, much more so than the evolutionary reasoning for why fungi have scents at all.

unless of course you are an obsessive CA mushroomer that follows the fungal fruitings up into the mountains come spring! This certainly includes a number of folks here on MO (you know who you are!) but perhaps not too many outside of a small circle of folks who hunt the CA snowmelt for non-edible species.

In that habitat and at this time, yes, Nivatogastrium is common…and very cool.

Well, its been posted 12 times here already, it isn’t that rare… You need to come down to the Sierras in the spring time. Head up to elevation, a week or two after the snows go, and you’ll probably be sure to find it…